Reduced resource utilization through standardized outcome-focused care plans

When evaluating ways to improve client outcomes, home healthcare administrators must consider the amount of resources used to provide the outcomes. Previous research has shown that outcome-focused care plans (OCPs) result in significantly better quality indicator scores than the traditional process-focused care plans (PCPs). The authors report the amount of resources used by a home healthcare agency when nursing care was guided by PCPs versus OCPs. The results showed that nurse visit time was less when OCPs were used. Outcome-focused care plans offer home healthcare administrators a mechanism to enhance quality while reducing resource utilization.